Water ski towline reel and drive means therefor



y 3, 969 0. s. PROSSER 3,443,772

WATER SKI TOWLINE REEL AND DRIVE ME1 '\NS THEREFOR Filed Oct. 18. 1967 INVENTOR.

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3,443,772 WATER SKI TOWLINE REEL AND DRIVE MEANS THEREFOR Daniel Shaffer Prosser, 1250 Loma Vista, Hollister, Calif. 95023 Filed Oct. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 676,141 Int. Cl. B65h 75/40, 17/46; F16d 41/24 U.S. Cl. 24286.5 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A reel for winding in and paying out a water skiing towline from the stern transom of a boat, comprising a ball bearing journaled hub for the reel and a clutch and brake connection between the hub and a gear drive to a reversible motor.

Background This invention relates broadly to towline reels for water skiing and more particularly to a novel arrangement of reel hub and clutch connection between the latter and a drive motor.

The overall general arrangement is common to all towline reels in which the reel is mounted within a boat for winding in and/or paying out towline from the stern of the boat. The art is replete with many forms of trunnions for such reels and of drive means, either electrical, mechanical and/or manual for turning such reels as desired. In most prior known reel winders the reel has direct drive connection with the drive means. Others show clutches as well as differentials for controlling the rotation of the reel. In addition to the foregoing the gear and clutch connections of the prior devices are quite complex.

The present invention The present invention has as its object to provide a simple yet economical and easy to manufacture towline reel. In this connection it is an object to provide a towline reel in which the components are all available and assembled by a simple change in construction for obtaining a combined action therein.

It is another object to provide a novel drive connection between the clutch and brake of a ball bearinged hub of a reel and a reversible motor for controlling the paying out and the winding in of a towline on such reel.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following description in the light of the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the stern of a boat having a towline reel embodying the present invention mounted on the transom thereof.

FIG. 2 is a section through FIG. 1 taken substantially along line 2-2 therein.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section through the hub, reel and drive end of the towline reel of FIG. 2 and taken substantially along line 33 of the latter.

FIG. 4 is a section through FIG. 3 taken along line 44 therein.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the gear housing only of FIG. 4 and showing its drive connection to the motor for the reel.

FIG. 6 is a section through the drive clutch of the hub taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

General description Referring to the drawing the towline reel 10 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to comprise a reel 11 mounted on a shaft 12 supported on the arms 13-13 of a trunnion States Patent 0 bracket 14. The base 15 of the bracket 14 is disposed to be secured to the transom 16 at the stern end of a boat B. The reel 11 includes a hub 17 about which a towline cable C is Wound between suitable sidewall discs 1848' secured to the hub 17. As best seen in FIG. 2 the towline cable C pays out from the hub 17 of the reel 11 through a suitable guide grommet 19 in the transom 16.

At one side of the trunnion bracket 14 a gear housing 20 is secured to the adjacent side wall 13 of such bracket. From this gear housing extends a motor housing 21 embodying a reversible electrical motor M. This motor M has the usual electrical conducting wires W which extend back into the boat B for connection to a source of power and a control means therefor.

Detailed description The present invention resides in the implementation of a conventional bicycle coaster brake 25 as the hub portion 17 for the reel 11 and coordinating the same via the trunnion bracket 14 and axle shaft 12 with a reversible motor M of the type employed in the automotive industry for push button operation in the raising and lowering of windows.

Referring to FIG. 3 the coaster brake 25 has its axle shaft 12 supported at both ends at the extremities of both arms 13 and 13 of the trunnion bracket 14.

The coaster brake 25 consists of the usual fixed cone 26 threaded upon the axle shaft 12 adjacent one arm 13' of the bracket 14.

The fixed cone 26 supports the inner race of a ball bearing unit 27, the outer race of which supports one end 28 of the hub 17. The opposite end 29 of the hub 17 is supported on a similar ball bearing unit 30 the inner race of which rests upon a cone 31 forming part of a clutch 32. The clutch 32 includes a splined connection to a clutch collar 33 which is slidable on the axle shaft 12. The outer periphery of the clutch collar 33 has a plurality of eccentric recesses 34 milled into it for supporting rollers 35 in a position to engage and/or disengage the inner cylindrical surface 36 of the hub 17. A compression spring 37 mounted on the axle shaft 12 between the fixed cone 26 and the clutch collar 33 serves to urge the latter outwardly (to the right FIG. 3) during non-driving phase of the clutch cone 31 relative to the collar 33.

The clutch cone 31 is connected to a hub cap 38, the cap portion 39 of which has sliding fit over the outer (right hand FIG. 3) opening in that end 29 of the hub 17. The hub portion 40 of the hub cap 38 is mounted for free rotation in an opening 41 formed in the extremity of the adjacent arm 13 of the bracket 14. This portion 40 of the hub cap 38 also turns within a base plate 42 of the gear housing 20. The base plate 42 is secured by machine screws 43 to the extremity of the arm 13 of bracket 14 for supporting the gear housing 20 and motor M thereon.

The outer end of the hub portion 40 has a worm wheel 44 secured by screws 44' thereto for rotation therewith about the axle shaft 12. This worm wheel 44 meshes with a worm gear 45 secured to one end of the shaft of the motor M. The worm gear 45 is disposed within the gear housing 20 which is secured by machine screws 46 to the base plate 42. Suitable seal is provided by an O ring in the base plate to bear against the hub portion 40 of the hub cap 38. Thus the worm wheel 44 and worm gear 45 are confined within an oil or grease sealed chamber 47 provided within the gear housing 20.

As best seen in FIG. 5 the gear housing 20 is cast as a part of the motor housing 21 which extends obliquely downwardly co-axially of the worm gear 45 and the shaft of the motor M, the motor shaft and motor housing being tangentially disposed relative to the gear housing 20.

Referring again to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the side wall discs 18 and 18 are Welded or otherwise secured to the respective ends of the hub 17 for confiing the towline cable C therebetween and on the hub. One end of the cable C may be secured to the hub 17 as by a screw 48 threaded into the hub.

Operation With the motor M turned off and having been reversed to back off the splined clutch cone 31, the spring 37 maintains the clutch collar 33 in a position to affect free wheeling of the hub 17 and reel 11. In this condition the free end of the towline cable C will pay out through the guide grommet 19 in the transom 16. When the towline C is out the desired length the motor M is turned on in rewinding direction for a sufiicient time to force the splinded clutch cone 32 toward the clutch collar 33 against the action of the spring 37. This causes the clutch rollers 35 to be forced outwardly from or in the eccentric recesses 34 in the collar 33 and into engagement with the inner surface 36 of the hub 17, thus setting the brake. This causes the hub 17 and reel 11 to be locked against turning even though a load, such as a water skier, is on the towline cable C.

Should the water skier release hold on the towline C the latter must be drawn in promptly to prevent accidents or the line becoming fouled or snagged by another power boat crossing the line. By turning on the motor M to rewind, the worm gear 45 turns the worm wheel 44, clutch cone 32 and clutch collar 33 in a direction to expand the clutch rollers 35 outwardly into driving relation with the hub 17. This turns the reel 11 in a direction to pull in the line C and wind the latter upon the reel 11.

It is possible to use the foregoing arrangement without the compression spring 37 thus eliminating the free wheeling aspect of the reel 11. Under such arrangement the clutch collar 33 is directly connected to the clutch cone 32 such that the latter is held against roaiton in a paying out direction by reason of the non-rotatability of the clutch cone 32 and worm wheel 44, the latter being stopped by the static (non-rotative action) of the worm gear 45. In such a case the motor M must be turned on in a reversed direction such as to allow the towline C to pay out. When the line is out far enough the motor is turned off and the brake is in set condition to hold the line against paying out.

In either event the foregoing reel and drive means therefor provide a smooth operating towline reel economical to manufacture and highly efficient in use. While I have described the foregoing reel and drive means therefor in specific detail it will be appreciated that the same may be susceptible to modification, alternation and/or variations Without departing from the spirit of my invention therein. I therefore desire to avail myself of all modifications, alterations and/or variations as may fairly come within the purview of the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A water skiing towline reel of the type including a reel mounted for rotation on the arms of a trunnion bracket having its base secured to the transom of a boat for paying out and winding in a towline cable relative thereto; and reel comprising in combination:

a coaster brake assembly having a hub mounted on ball bearings between a fixed cone and a clutch cone, arranged on an axle shaft between the arms of the trunnion bracket,

a pair of side wall discs mounted on said hub adjacent the ends thereof for confining windings of said towline cable therebetween on said hub,

a clutch collar mounted on said axle shaft within said hub having clutch connection with the inner wall of said hub and splined connection with said clutch cone,

a hub cap secured to said clutch cone and journaled for rotation about said axle shaft adjacent one arm of said trunnion bracket, and

a drive means comprising:

(a) a base plate secured to one arm of said trunnion bracket,

(b) a gear housing secured to said base plate, concentric to said axle shaft and having a motor housing extending tangentially therefrom,

(c) a reversible motor mounted in said motor housing and having a motor shaft extending into said gear housing;

(d) a worm gear on said motor shaft within said gear housing, and

(e) a worm wheel mounted on said axle shaft and secured to said hub cap within said gear housing for turning said hub cap, clutch cone and hub.

2. The device in accordance with claim 1 in which said clutch collar has a plurality of eccentric recesses formed in its periphery, and a clutch roller arranged in each of said recesses for movement radially into engagement with the inner wall of said hub upon operation cable onto said reel.

3. The device in accordance with claim 2 including a compression spring mounted on said axle shaft between said fixed cone and said clutch collar for normally maintaining said clutch collar in driving engagement with said clutch cone.

4. The device in accordance with claim 2 including a compression spring arranged on said axle shaft between said fixed cone and said clutch collar for maintaining the latter in non-rotative relation relative to the splined connection thereof with said clutch cone to thereby facilitate release of said hub and reel for free rotation upon said axle shaft and for alternately establishing a braking action between the clutch rollers and said hub for locking the latter against rotation at the option of the operator of said reversible motor.

5. The device in accordance with claim 1 including a compression spring arranged on said axle shaft between said fixed cone and said clutch collar for maintaining the latter in non-rotative relation relative to the splined connection thereof with said clutch cone for locking said clutch collar in clutch connection with the inner wall of said hub dependent upon termination of operation of said reversible motor in one direction and for alternately releasing said hub and reel for free rotation upon said axle shaft upon termination of operation of said reversible motor in an opposite direction.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,081,567 5/1937 Winkler 1926 2,151,324 3/1939 Jordan 192-6 3,043,259 7/1962 Sadler 242-865 X 3,232,555 2/ 1966 Gorrell et al 242-86.5

WILLIAM S. BURDEN, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,443,772 May 13, 1969 Daniel Shafter Prosser It is certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 3, line 64, "and" should read said Signed and sealed this 21st day of April 1970.

(SEAL) Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

